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English Phrasal Verbs

by Preposition

Tony Marsh
(page)
after ........1 away ........4 for ........7 on ........11 up ........14
go after give away be (all) for be on give up
take after go away fall for carry on hang up
put away go for let up
against ........1 take away look for out ........11 make up
be against throw away send for fall out play up
go against stand for give out take up
have against by ........5 not stand for hang out throw up
use against stand by leave out wrap up
in ........8 make out
along ........2 down ........5 give in put out up against ........15
bring along let down roll out be up against
come along put down in on ........9 run out
sing along shoot down be in on sell out up for ........16
stand down get in on stand out be up for
along with ........2
get along with down on ........6 off ........9 out for ........13 up on ........16
go along with come down on give off be out for be up on
look down on put off look out for
around ........3 see off up to ........16
come around down to ........6 sleep off out to ........13 be up to
carry around be down to take off set out to leave up to
drive around talk down to throw off work up to
go around to ........13
hang around down with ........7 off on ........10 come to up with ........17
look around be down with go off on look to meet up with
run around see to hang up
sleep around off with ........10
walk around make off with langmatrix.com
after 1

go after - to pursue something, to try to get something

The lion went after the gazelle.

take after - to resemble someone, to look like someone

He takes after his father, they have the same chin.

against

be against - to be opposed to and idea

She is against abortion.

go against - to do something someone else doesn't want you to do

He went against his father's wishes and got a tattoo.

have against - to have bad feelings toward someone

He's not that bad. What do you have against him?

use against - to incriminate


Anything you say can be used against you in a court of law. langmatrix.com
along 2

bring along - to bring something with you when you go somewhere

You're going to DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles)? Bring along a book, you'll be waiting for a long time.

come along - to accompany someone

Wherever I go, my dog likes to come along.

sing along - to sing with a song that's already being sung

Everyone knew the words so we all started to sing along.

along with

get along with - to have a friendly relationship with someone

Even though they are each very dfferent, they all get along with each other.

go along with - to pretend you believe something

I knew the story was a lie, but I went along with it anyway.

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around 3

come around - to finally agree with someone

So now you see things my way? I knew you'd come around!

carry around - to have something with you often

He carries around a pocket knife in case he needs to open something.

drive around - to drive without a clear destination

We drove around all night looking for a restaurant.

go around - to repeatedly do something

You don't see me going around telling everyone!

hang around - to spend idle time somewhere

He used to hang around at bars a lot.

look around - to check a place out

Cool bookstore! Do you mind if I come in and look around a bit?


langmatrix.com
run around - to run without a clear destination 4

He's running around like a chicken with its head cut off.

sleep around - to have multiple sexual partners

He doesn't want to date seriously, he just wants to sleep around.

walk around - to walk without a clear destination

I really want to explore this city. Let's go walk around!

away

give away - to give something to someone for free (often someone you don't know)

The man gave away all of his things anfd became a monk.

go away - to leave, or to disappear

I can't see you on the webcam; your image went away.

put away - to store something

Please put away all of your notes and books, the test will now begin.
langmatrix.com
take away - to remove something (often against someone's will) 5

The teacher took away the student's cell phone when she caught him using it in class.

throw away - to dispose of into the garbage

Do you need this? Or do you want me to throw it away?

by

stand by - to wait for a request or order

Call now! Operators are standing by.

down

let down - to disappoint someone

I can't believe you did that! You've really let me down.

put down - to insult someone

He is being rude, calling me names and putting me down.

langmatrix.com
shoot down - to reject an idea 6

The boss totally shot down my idea to have shirtless Fridays.

stand down - to resign from a position (often military)

After the crusing defeat, the general decided to stand down.

down on

come down on - to have a harsh reaction to someone

The judge came down hard on the criminal, sentencing him to 50 years in prison.

look down on - to be disapproving of something

Society looks down on people who smoke.

down to

be down to - to be willing to do something (slang)

I'm down to check out this new movie.

langmatrix.com
talk down to - to speak to someone in a disrespectful way 7

She's always talking down to me, like she thinks I'm dumb.

down with

be down with - to supporter a person, cause, or idea

I think it's a great idea, I'm totally down with it!.

for

be (all) for - to be entirely in agreement with something

I'm all for equal rights!

fall for - to be tricked or deceived by something

She played a trick on him and he fell for it.

go for - to make an attempt

It will be difficult, but I think we should go for it

langmatrix.com
look for - to seek 8

I'm looking for a particular book, can you help me find it?

send for - to hire someone to go get something or someone

I am going to travel to the new country, and in a few months I will send for you.

stand for - to represent a belief

The flag stands for freedom,

stand for - to represent a word (acronym)

USA stands for the Unites States of America.

not stand for - not to tolerate

This is unacceptable. I will not stand for it!

in

give in - to agree to something you previously did not afree with

The child kept begging her father for ice cream until the father finally gave in.
langmatrix.com
in on 9

be in on - to be priviledged to some secret information

The driver was in on the prank.

get in on - to partake in some activity

Hey, get in on this poker game!

off

give off - to emit, or put into the air

The flowers gave off a sweet smell.

put off - to disgust someone

He put off his date by talking non-stop about his ex girlfriends.

see off - to say goodbye

We went to the airport to see her off.

langmatrix.com
sleep off - to sleep until something changes in your body 10

I have a bad hangover, but don't want to take anything. I'll just sleep it off.

take off - to begin to fly

The plane took off late from the airport.

throw off - to confuse

I wasn't expecting to see him there so it really threw me off.

off on

go off on - to yell and scream at

She was so mad. She started yelling and screaming. She completely went off on him.

off with

make off with - to steal successfully steal something

The thief made off with $1,000 in jewely.

langmatrix.com
on 11

be on - to be performing well

He's playing a great game! He's on tonight.

carry on - to resume doing something

Everyone stopped when the General entered the room. When he left, we all carried on.

out

fall out - to disperse (military term)

Everyone ready? Ok. Fall out!

give out - to stop functioning

He ran for 15 miles and then his legs gave out.

hang out - to spend time with friends

Everyone was hanging out in the living room, eating pizza and watching the game.

langmatrix.com
leave out - to omit information 12

He left that detail out on his resume.

make out - to kiss continuously

They made out the entire movie.

put out - to inconvenience someone

Are you sure you don't mind if I stay here? I don't want to put you out.

roll out - to present a new product or service

The car company is rolling out a new line of cars.

run out - to have no more of something

There are no more beers in the refrigerator. Did we run out?

sell out - to betray your values in favor of money

He used to be a great artist, but he sold out to his record label.

langmatrix.com
stand out - to be distinguished 13

He's the only person wearing pink...he really stands out.

out for

be out for - to care about

He is selfish, he is only out for himself.

look out for - to protect

The older brother looks out for his little sister.

out to

set out to - to have the intention of doing something

The young entrepreneur set out to make a million dollars in his first year.

to

come to - to regain consciousness

When the boxer came to, he realized he had lost the fight.

langmatrix.com
look to - to seek guidance from someone 14

Everyone at the company looks to her for advice and support.

see to - to make sure that something happens

See to it that this never happens again!

up

give up - to quit, surrender, or stop doing something

The situation is impossible. I give up!

hang up - to end a phone call

I need to hang up, I'll call you back.

let up - to decrease intensity

After a few hours, the rain began to let up.

make up - to forgive each other after a fight

After the argument, both parties were able to make up and be friends again. langmatrix.com
play up - to exaggerate 15

He played up his experience at the job interview.

take up - to begin a new hobby

I'm thinking about taking up horseback riding.

throw up - to vomit

Those hotdogs were nasty. I think I'm going to throw up.

wrap up - to end

This guy has been talking for 20 minutes. Wrap it up!

up against

be up against - to have to confront someone or something

We are up against some very tough competition.

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up for 16

be up for - to be willing to do something

Let's go skydiving. Are you up for it?

up on

be up on - to be current on news or trends

He's very well-informed - always up on the latest events.

up to

be up to - to be doing

Hey, what are you up to right now?

leave up to - to let someone else make a decision

I don't care either way. I'm going to leave it up to you.

work up to - to become accustomed to something little by little

That exercise routine is very intense. I am going to have to work up to it.

langmatrix.com
up with 17

meet up with - to get together with someone

I met up with my friend at a café.

langmatrix.com

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